Hopper construction



HOPPER CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 11, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .INVENTOR Karl M-Hamilton ATTORNEYS Dec. 26, 1939. K. M. HAMILTON HOPPER CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11, 1937 INVENTQR Karl M. Hamil/tau BY 7 llll lflllllill/IIIIllllfllll ATTORN Patented Dec. 26, l93

PATENT OFFICE HOPPER CONSTRUCTION Karl M. Hamilton, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Bettendorf Company, Bettendorf, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application September 11, 1937, Serial No. 163,411

9 Claims.

This invention relates to railway hopper cars,

and in particular to an improved hopper construction.

An object of this invention is to provide a railway car hopper construction composed of parts which may be formed separately, and assembled.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved hopper construction which will be easy and economical to manufacture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hopper construction in which the parts may be readily cast separately and secured together to form the hopper.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, accompanied by the drawings illustrating a hopper of the type contemplated in the present invention, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a hopper embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the hopper in position attached to the underframe of a railway car; Fig. 3 is a fragmental section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the connection of two metal parts of the hopper;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

I Fig, 5 is a fragmental sectionalview taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, showing the hopper in rear elevation;

Fig. 7 is a fragmental sectional veiw taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 6 showing the relation between a side plate, the floor plate, and the lower cross rail; -Fig. 8 is a fragmental sectional view taken substantially on line 88 of Fig. 6 illustrating the upper end of the hopper floor plate and its connection to the car.

- Referring to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, it will be seen that the hopper is of such formation that it may be secured to a standard hopper car. The hopper comprises side plates l and 2, upper and lower cross rails 3 and 4, and a floor plate 5, which are separately formed and secured together to form a hopper unit. The side plate I ofthe 50 hopper is substantially triangular in shape and it-is provided with recesses 6 and 1 at the upper and lower corners at the mouth end of the hop-, per. Similarly, the side plate 2 is triangular in shape and has corresponding recessed portions 6' and 1'. The upper cross rail 3 is provided with end flanges 8 which mate with the recesses ii, 6 of the side plates I, 2. The lower cross rail t is similarly provided with end flanges 9 to mate with the recesses l, I of the side plates. A chute floor plate is supported on inwardly extending flanges ill of the side plates 1 and 2, and at its lower end overlaps and extends partially across the inner portion of the cross rail 4'. The central portion of the lower cross rail 4 between the end flanges thereof forms the chute lip of the hopper.

The side plate I is provided with a downwardly projecting flange H which is fastened to a center sill l2 of a railway car by rivets or other suitable means, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer side plate of the hopper is provided along its upper edge with an outwardly projecting flange 13 which may be secured to the side frame of a car by any suitable means, such as riveting, welding or the like. The flange 13 may be provided with strengthening ribs. Preferably, itis secured to the structural member l4 carried by the side wall of the car by rivets, as shown in Fig. 6.

The cross rail 3 may be united to the side plates l and 2 through the medium of the flanges 8, in any suitable manner, preferably by welding along contiguous edges. plates l and 2 may be provided with integral lips [5. These lips 55 are on the outer sides of the plates I and 2 and are disposed along the edges of the recesses 6, 6, projecting beyond the edges. The flanges 8, of the cross rail 3 mate with the recesses 5, 6', abutting the edges of the side plates and underlying the lips It. The flanges 8 may be permanently united to the side plates by welding the'contiguous edge portions of the side plates thereto.

The upper cross rail 3 is provided at its inner end with a downwardly extending flange 56 for attachment to the center sill of the railway car. Flange i6 is preferably formed with apertures so that it may be riveted to securely hold it to the car frame. At the outer end the cross rail 3 is provided with an outwardly extending flange H which is in alignment with the outwardly projecting flange l3 of the side plate 2. The flange H is preferably provided with apertures so that it may be riveted and securely fastened to the member 14 of the car. The central portion of the cross rail 3 between the end flanges 8 is angularly shaped in cross section and is provided with a plurality of hinge lugs 18 which are apertured to receive hinge pins to hold the mating hinge lugs of a suitable door (not shown). The cross rail 3 extends upwardly and forwardly toward As shown in Fig. 3, the side the floor of the car and is provided at its upper edge with a notch l9 which is formed to receive a car floor plate 20. The floor plate is received in the notch l9, thereby providing a flush surface for the discharge of material from the car.

The lower cross rail 4 is shown having a flat central portion with upturned end flanges 9 adapted to be received in the recesses 1 and I of the side plates l and 2 respectively. The lower Cross rail 4 may be fastened to the side plates in a manner similar to the fastening of the upper cross rail 3. As shown in Fig. 5, the flanges Q of the cross rail 4 are positioned in the recesses and i abutting the edges of the side plates and underlying lips 2| which are on the outer sides of the plates l and 2 projecting beyond the edges of the recesses I, l. Flanges 9 of the cross rail may be permanently united to the side plates by welding to the contiguous edge portions of the side plates, The central portion of the cross rail l between the end flanges 9 forms a chute lip which may be provided with a suitable boss 22 for the attachment of a latch mechanism (not shown).

The inturned flanges ID are disposed along substantially the length of the lower inclined edge of the side plates I and 2. The flat floor plate 5 is supported thereon and overlies a portion of the chute lip of the lower cross rail 4, as shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 8 shows the method of joining the floor plate 5 at its upper end to the car floor plate 23 and the side plates i and 2. At the upper end of the inwardly extending flanges ill of the side plates l and 2 there is a downwardly turned end portion 26. To this is attached by riveting or other suitable means an angle bar 25. This angle bar 25 supports both the floor plate 5 and the car floor plate 23. With the floor plate 23 and the floor plate 5 in abutment, loose material may be readily discharged from the car through the hopper.

The end portions of the side plates terminate at their discharge ends in flanges 26 which are preferably offset inwardly. Likewise the end flanges 8 and 9 of the cross rails 3 and 4 terminate at their discharge ends in inwardly ofiset flanges, substantially in alignment with the flanges 2% of the side plates. An outwardly extending flange 21 of the upper cross rail 3, together with the flanges 26 of the side plates and portion 28 of the lower cross rail 4 define a foursided hopper opening.

In the manufacture of this hopper the parts are formed separately and assembled, preferably by the means of a suitable jig or holding device. When the separate pieces are in an assembled position they may be securely fastened together by welding or riveting or other suitable means. The side plates l and 2 and the upper and lower cross rails 3 and 4 are preferably cast and welded together while the floor plate 5 may be either cast or a rolled section.

The parts of this hopper can be readily made, as by casting in molds and secured together as disclosed herein, whereby a simple and strong hopper construction, which will resist corrosion, is obtained at a relatively low cost. Also, if a part of the hopper should be broken in service it may be replaced.

It is to be understood that details of the construction shown and described herein are for the purposes of illustration and explanation and that such details may be varied without departing from the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a railway car hopper construction, two substantially triangular side plates, each being recessed at the upper and lower corners of the discharge end, upper and lower cross rails having end flanges fitting in the recessed corners of the side plates and secured thereto, and a floor plate supported by and secured to the side plates and overlying the lower cross rail.

2. In a railway car hopper construction, two cast, substantially triangular side plates, each being recessed at the upper and lower corners of the discharge end thereof, upper and lower cast cross rails having end flanges fitting in the recessed corners of. the side plates, and a floor plate supported by the side plates and overlying the lower cross rail, said parts being firmly secured together to form a hopper for attachment to a railway car.

3. In a railway car hopper construction, two

substantially triangular side plates, each recessed at the upper and lower corners of the discharge end thereof, upper and lower cross rails having end flanges fitting in the recessed corners of the side plates, lips formed on the side plates and overlying said end flanges of the upper and lower cross rails, said lips and flanges being welded together, and a floor plate carried by the side plates and overlying the lower cross rail.

4. In a railway car hopper construction, two cast, substantially triangular side plates, each being recessed at the upper and lower corners of the discharge end thereof, upper and lower east cross rails having end flanges fitting in the recessed corners of the side plates, said side plates having inwardly extending flanges along their bottom edges, and a floor plate supported by the inwardly extending flanges on the side plates and overlying the lower cross rail, said parts being firmly secured together to form a hopper for attachment to a railway car.

5. In a railway car hopper construction, two substantially triangular side plates, each being recessed at the upper and lower corners of the discharge end, upper and lower cross rails having end flanges fitting in the recessed corners of the side plates and secured thereto, and a floor plate supported by and secured to the side plates and overlying the lower cross rail, said upper cross rail provided with flanges to secure it to a center sill and also to a structural member carried by the side wall of the car.

6. In a railway car hopper construction, two substantially triangular side plates, each being recessed at the upper and lower corners of the discharge end, upper and lower cross rails having end flanges fitting in the recessed corners of the side plates and secured thereto, and a floor plate supported by and secured to the side plates and overlying the lower cross rail, said upper cross rail having flanges for attachment to the car and notched to receive the lower end of a car floor plate.

'7. In a railway car hopper construction, substantially triangular outer and inner side plates, each being recessed at the upper and lower corners of the discharge end, upper and lower cross rails having end flanges fitting in the recessed corners of the side plates, and a floor plate carried by the side plates, said outer side plate having an outwardly projecting horizontal flange, and said upper cross rail having a horizontal flange in alinement with the flange of the side plate for attachment to a structural member carried by a side wall of the car.

8. In a railway car hopper construction, two substantially triangular side plates, each being recessed at the upper and lower corners of the dis-' charge end, upper and lower cross rails having end flanges fitting in the recessed corners of the side plates and secured thereto, and a floor plate supported by and secured to the side plates and overlying the lower cross rail, the end portions of the side plates and of the upper and lower cross rails at the discharge end of the hopper terminating in offset flanges disposed in alinement to define a hopper opening. 9. In a railway car hopper construction, two

substantially triangular side plates, each being recessed at the upper and lower corners of the discharge end, upper and lower cross rails having end flanges fitting in the recessed corners of the side plates and secured thereto, and a floor plate supported by and secured to the side plates and overlying the lower cross rail, said side plates terminating in flanges at their discharge ends, the end flanges of. the upper cross rail'terminating at their discharge ends in flanges disposed in alinement with the said flanges of the side plates to define the sides of the hopper opening.

" KARL M. HAMILTON. 

